What They're Saying About Lefty Driesell

January 04, 2003|Compiled by DAVE FAIRBANK

TERRY HOLLAND

University of Virginia special assistant to the president who played for Driesell at Davidson and coached against him at Virginia

"He's certainly been a great, great part of the college game for a long time. What he did at Davidson and Maryland was unbelievable, and then to rebuild James Madison's program and go to Georgia State and take them to the NCAA Tournament, it's just absolutely amazing what he's done."

On Driesell's formula for success:

"He was just so darn enthusiastic about everything he did. He had the ability to make people believe they were better than their press clippings or what other people thought of them. In that respect, he was a great salesman, which made him a great motivator and a great recruiter. He demanded a great deal of people. He used to make us go to church on Sundays as a team. There were times when he had you do things you didn't always want to do, but they were always things that made you a better player or a bette person."

On coaching against Driesell when he was at Maryland and Holland at Virginia:

"That was always hard. Not nearly as hard as recruiting against him. But hard because somebody had to lose."

GARY WILLIAMS

Maryland coach and Terps' alumnus

"I played here in 1968 and Lefty came in 1970, so I knew what it was here when he arrived at Maryland. When you look at guys with influence during that time, he was right there with Red Auerbach, John Thompson and Morgan Wootten in getting this to be a basketball area. Lefty is one of those people who have become a very well-known figure in college basketball historically. If you say the name, 'Lefty,' people know who you're talking about."

On his energy:

"He was a great promoter, which needed to be done at Maryland. He was the reason the seats got moved to the floor of Cole Field House. He was the reason Midnight Madnes got started nationally. It was his idea. I don't think anybody ever out- worked Lefty. If he had to stay on the job 18 hours a day, he would."

On his legacy:

"It's unfortunate, but for Lefty to get the respect that he truly deserves, I think maybe he needed to retire. It might have taken that for people to realize the magnitude of his career. His numbers sometimes get overlooked, but he's really had a great career. He has built a winner everywhere he's been."

CHARLIE WOOLLUM

Former William and Mary, Bucknell coach and Newport News High coach

"He's one of the great coaches in the history of the game, there's no question about that, and one of the best people in the game."

On Lefty's motivation:

"Number one, he's a very driven person to be successful. He's a winner himself and he always wanted to be that way as a coach. He didn't want to be second to anybody. I don't know if it's true or not, but there's a story about him selling encyclopedias and he was the top encyclopedia salesman. Whatever he did, he was going to be successful."

On Lefty's image as a country boy:

"Part of that is how he wanted to be portrayed. If Lefty had been an actor, he would have been a great actor. Behind the scenes, he's about as smart as they come."

TOM YEAGER

CAA commissioner during Lefty's nine years at James Madison

"He's one of the all-time great coaches, but he's also one of the great personalities in college basketball. He just brought a certain vibrancy to every game he coached and everything he did."

On Lefty as a gentleman competitor in the CAA:

"We'd be talking about our banquet before the tournament and he said, 'I don't want to break bread with these guys. I want to beat 'em.' I'd say, but it's a big deal for the league and for kids to get their awards and for the tournament sponsors. And you know what: he was the first one there, and his team was the first team there. He was always great about that."

On his impact on the league:

"Some of his games with Dick Tarrant's Richmond teams were legendary. He was one of those personalities people came to see. He was legendary. His kids were always sportsmen. His players were good kids. He was one of those guys who'd find out where the line was and walk right up to it and lean over it, but never step over it."